State v. Taylor

661 S.W.2d 794, 1983 Mo. App. LEXIS 4256

Opinions

LOWENSTEIN, Judge.

Appellant Leon Y. Taylor was jury convicted of attempted first-degree robbery in violation of Section 564.011, RSMo.1978,¹ and sentenced to five year imprisonment.

At approximately 7:30 in the evening of November 21,1981 Mrs. Edith Crumley, age 69, was walking on the north side of Main Street in Lexington, Missouri, toward her home. Mrs. Crumley observed a black man come from around the corner and run toward her. The man grabbed Mrs. Crumley by the shoulders and shook her while demanding her money. When the victim did not respond to his request for her money he struck her over her left eye with a pistol. The blow caused a bad cut which required several stitches in a hospital emergency room, resulting in a blood clot which remained for several weeks. The blow knocked her glasses off.

The attempted robbery, which possibly lasted as long as three minutes, (during which time the victim and assailant were face to face for one full minute and less than six inches apart) was thwarted when three young men arrived at the crime scene. Two of the youths, Donald Rector and Brad Stephenson jumped from the car in which they were riding and set off chasing the attacker down the street, while the third youth, David Cross, the driver, stayed to help Mrs. Crumley to the car. The attempt to apprehend the perpetrator was cut short after about a block and one-half foot chase when the offender turned and yelled at the boys to stop and fired a shot from his pistol at them.

Taylor was subsequently arrested in connection with this crime. Taylor matched the description given by Crumley of her attacker. On December 1, 1981, ten days after the attack, a line-up was held by the Lafayette County Sheriff, in which Mrs. Crumley, Rector, Stephenson and Cross all positively identified appellant as the individual who had attempted to rob Mrs. Crumley. The victim and the same three witnesses reiterated their identification of Taylor at the preliminary hearing on December 15,1981, the hearing to suppress the identifications, and at trial. At no time during any of the proceedings did Crumley or the three boys express any doubt as to their identification of Taylor as the assailant.

Appellant raises one point of error on appeal. He contends the trial court committed plain error resulting in manifest injustice, in denying his motion to suppress pre-trial or in-court identification testimony and in then allowing Edith Crumley and Rector to identify him at trial as the perpetrator of the crime. See Rule 29.12(b). Appellant claims error due to the fact that procedures utilized by the Lafayette County Sheriff’s Department and Lexington Police Department caused the line-up to be so impermissibly suggestive as to give rise to the substantial likelihood of irreparable misidentification of him and the in-court identification of him as the assailant by Rector and Crumley was inevitably tainted by the improper nature of the line-up.

Appellant’s point of error is ruled against him and the judgment of the trial court is affirmed.

In order for appellant to succeed here, he must demonstrate two distinct factors. First, he must show that the line-up procedure was unduly suggestive as administered by the police. Second, he must demonstrate that the line-up was so impermissibly suggestive as to create a very substantial likelihood of an irreparable misidentification at trial. This second factor reflects the principle that unnecessarily suggestive line-up procedures do not per se require the exclusion of identification testimony elicited from witnesses who have been present at such line-ups. The rule is that even if the line-up is improperly suggestive, reliable identification testimony derived from observations unconnected to the line-up will be permitted before the jury at trial. State v. Carter, 572 S.W.2d 430, 435 (Mo. banc 1978). See also Manson v. Brathwaite, 432 U.S. 98, 113, 97 S.Ct. 2243, 2252, 53 L.Ed.2d 140 (1977); Neil v. Biggers, 409 U.S. 188, 198-200, 93 S.Ct. 375, 381-383, 34 L.Ed.2d 401 (1972). This two-step analysis was recently set forth in State v. Higgins, 592 S.W.2d 151, 159 (Mo. banc 1979); and State v. Sanders, 621 S.W.2d 386, 389 (Mo.App.1981).

I.

As to whether the line-up was suggestive, the appellant basically contends the viewers knew the people in the line-up (other than Taylor), or, the physical characteristics of those in the line-up made the selection of Taylor inevitable. A review of the scenario of events following Taylor’s arrest relating to the identification by the victim and witnesses seems in order.

The line-up held December 1, 1981 and the identifications of Taylor, who is black, was sought to be suppressed and a hearing was held on February 24, 1982. At the hearing Sheriff Darnell, who conducted the line-up, testified as to the difficulty in obtaining black persons to be in line-ups in Lafayette County. He said one of the four persons in the line-up, # 2, was in jail, # 3 was a city worker who was putting up decorations at the time asked, and # 4 was a fellow “from uptown” Lexington. The young men, as a group, viewed the line-up first, then the victim viewed the line-up alone. Darnell testified the victim said # 1 looked exactly like the man who robbed her — “Looked just like him”. Mrs. Crumley described the incident where her assailant grabbed her, shook her, hit her when she didn’t give him the money, how her glasses were knocked off, and that she had no trouble seeing the attacker’s facial features. She had not seen the other three men in the line-up before. She testified to pointing out Taylor immediately when she stepped through the door to view the line-up, after noting his appearance and even the way he stood. Rector knew # 2 and # 4 in the line-up. He did not know # 3 (who had an afro hair style). He said Taylor, # 1 looked exactly like the one who did it (Rector had seen the assailant for 20 seconds). Stephenson who saw the assailant for 10 seconds at about 10 feet away identified Taylor as the man he and Rector ran off. He knew # 2 and # 4 and that # 2 was in jail at the time. Cross also knew # 2 and # 4 by name but did not know # 3 (the same as Stephenson). Cross identified # 1, Taylor, as the attacker.

At the December 15th Preliminary Hearing, Crumley described her attacker and the pistol he hit her with. Her identification matched that of Taylor. The sheriff escorted her into the room to view the line-up. The boys did not view the line-up with her but were opposite from her across the room while she viewed the array. She said that at the line-up she almost immediately picked out Taylor as her attacker, and repeated she knew none of the other three in the line-up. Rector identified Taylor and described his clothing the night of the crime. Stephenson identified Taylor at the Preliminary as did Cross who reiterated the boys saw the line-up first, stayed in the room while Crumley was brought in, but stated Crumley said nothing to them while she viewed the line-up.

The trial testimony of the three young men and Crumley was consistent with their previous account, the events of the attack and the line-up. Crumley made an in-court identification of the defendant (“I have no doubts whatever, none”). She said there was no conversation at the line-up between her and the boys and she did not know whether they had identified anybody or not. Rector made a positive in-court identification of the appellant (“this is the man I saw”). The appellant put # 4 on the stand who said he made eye contact with the boys and smiled at them during the line-up, before the victim came in. # 4, who testified for Taylor said he did not know any of the boys who viewed the line-up. Stephenson and Cross were also called as witnesses for the defendant. Stephenson’s testimony was the same as at prior hearings. He said he knew # 2 and # 4, had seen # 3 before but did not know his name, and that he had no trouble picking appellant out of the lineup. Cross was consistent with his former testimony and with that of Stephenson. As to the line-up, he stated the boys, although in the same room when they viewed the line-up, were asked separately their answers and he did not know if the others had made an identification. He identified the appellant as the assailant.

There is no evidence that the law enforcement officials prior to the line-up knew that any of the persons in the line-up were personally known to the victim. U.S. v. Hadley, 671 F.2d 1112, 1115, footnote 2 (8th Cir.1982). The victim knew none of the persons in the line-up, so her identification could not have been tainted for that reason. That Rector knew # 2 and # 4, (a witness for the state) and then talked to Stephenson and Cross and somehow they all just picked Taylor because he was the only one left, is unsupported by the evidence, particularly Cross’s testimony that they did not discuss with each other who, if anybody, they had picked. There was no hint the boys had talked to or influenced Mrs. Crum-ley at the line-up or anytime later in her identification.

Whether the trial court identification of Rector was as a result of knowing members of the array need not be decided because of the determination made under part II pertaining to the reliability of the identifications. Likewise, it is not necessary for a protracted discussion of the effect of the in-court identifications made by Stephenson and Cross who were called by appellant and identified him as the perpetrator. The quandry of later finding out that persons in the line-up were known to the viewers and the result on any reliable identification to be made thereafter is evidenced by the answer given on cross-examination by Sheriff Darnell at the Suppression Hearing, “How do I know who they know?” Needless to say, law enforcement personnel should be as careful as possible to avoid situations like the case at bar, for the taint of suggestiveness grows as the line-up tends to become a showup. Cf. State v. Green, 635 S.W.2d 42, 45 (Mo.App.1982).

As to the other prong of appellant’s point, that the physical characteristics of the people in the line-up made his selection a certainty, is without merit. A picture of the four people in the line-up, introduced in evidence belies his point. # 2 is definitely shorter than the rest, but appellant, # 1, and the man who is # 3 are so close in appearance (other than hair, # 3 has an afro, but all the witnesses said the assailant was wearing a stocking cap) that it is hard to tell them apart. “A line-up does not require exact conformity, the disparity in a feature of two among standees does not invalidate the array as impermissibly suggestive.” State v. Hayes, 624 S.W.2d 488, 489 (Mo.App.1981). The appellant did not produce sufficient evidence to show such a disparity in the persons in the line-up to direct any of the witnesses attention to him. As was noted in State v. Green, true look alikes are not required. Only # 2 was substantially shorter than the rest. Police stations are not theatrical casting agencies. State v. Green, supra, at 45; U.S. v. Lewis, 547 F.2d 1030, 1035 (8th Cir.1976). Appellant’s complaint that none of the standees looked like him, making the line-up suggestive is contradicted by his later complaint that # 3 resembled him except for his hair style as also being suggestive, just will not stand. He can’t have things both ways.

II.

Assuming arguendo the line-up was impermissibly suggestive, there was no want of due process in allowing the victim and Rector to testify as to the identification of Taylor. State v. Littleton, 649 S.W.2d 225 at 227 (Mo. banc 1983).

In the instant case, each in-eourt witnesses’ identification was based on a reliable and independent factual basis which would serve to remove any unconstitutional taint that might have attached by reason of a suggestive line-up. State v. Gant, 586 S.W.2d 755, 765 (Mo.App.1979); State v. Carter, supra, at 435-36; State v. Simmons, supra, at 561, infra. It is reliability, not suggestiveness, that is the linchpin in determining due process consideration of rulings on in-court identification testimony. “Reliability” is to be assessed under the totality of the circumstances. Neil v. Biggers, supra; and Manson v. Brathwaite, supra. See also State v. Higgins, supra, at 160. The factors to be considered in determining whether identification testimony is sufficiently reliable that admittance at trial will not violate defendant’s right to due process include: (1) the opportunity of the witness to view the criminal at the time of the crime; (2) the witnesses degree of attention; (3) the accuracy of the witness’ prior description of the criminal; (4) the level of certainty demonstrated by the witness at the confrontation. Neil v. Biggers, supra, 409 U.S. at 199, 93 S.Ct. at 382; Manson v. Brathwaite, supra, 432 U.S. at 114, 97 S.Ct. at 2253; State v. Higgins, supra, at 160; State v. Littleton, supra, at p. 227.

Upon a review of these various factors in light of the testimony of Donald Rector and Edith Crumley, it is clear that their identification met the criteria of reliability, and was admissible. In the present case both witnesses agreed that the area in which the robbery occurred was sufficiently well lighted to allow for an accurate observation of the appellant’s facial features. State v. Littleton, supra, at 227; State v. Simmons, 559 S.W.2d 557, 561 (Mo.App.1977). Compare, Adail v. Wyrick, 711 F.2d 99 at 101, 102 (8th Cir.1981). Mrs. Crumley consistently stated that the incident lasted up to three minutes and that she observed appellant as he ran toward her and then again face to face for more than one minute at a distance of less than six inches. Mrs. Crumley had ample opportunity to view her assailant at the scene of the crime, constituting a reliable and independent observation from the line-up viewing. Donald Rector also testified that he clearly saw the appellant’s face for at least fifteen seconds as he alighted from the car to aid Mrs. Crumley. See, State v. Higgins, supra, at 160, where witnesses were 20 to 25 feet away and viewed for 5 to 10 seconds. Thus, both witnesses meet the first part of the analysis. State v. Charles, 612 S.W.2d 778, 780 (Mo. banc 1981).

As to the degree of attention, each witnesses’ complete attention was riveted on the crime as it transpired. Rector was so involved that he attempted to apprehend the assailant at risk to his own life and safety. Mrs. Crumley’s attention was unavoidably focused on the features of her assailant as she was in immediate contact with her attacker.

Both Rector and Mrs. Crumley gave prior accurate descriptions of the assailant. Rector has given a statement describing the offender as “a black man, early 20’s, 160 to 168 pounds, about 5'8" to 5'10", and Mrs. Crumley described the offender as “approximately 5'8" to 5'10" tall, and weighed approximately 160 pounds to 168 pounds”. The appellant is a black male, 5'8" tall and 154 pounds. Thus, there is little doubt that the accuracy of these prior descriptions is sufficient to support the reliability and independence of the in-court identification testimony. State v. Carter, supra, at 778; State v. Simmons, supra, at 561.

As to the witnesses’ level of certainty, both Rector and Mrs. Crumley stated that they were certain that this was the man who had committed the crime, and that they recognized him from both the crime scene and the line-up. This identification was at the line-up, preliminary hearing, suppression hearing and at trial.

The line-up was held only ten days after the commission of the attempted robbery, a short enough time to have no appreciable effect upon the reliability and independence of the on-scene observations of the two witnesses. Thus, the in-court testimony of Mrs. Crumley and Donald Rector is which they identified Taylor as the assailant, and their prior identifications of Taylor at both the suppression hearing and the preliminary hearings are sufficiently reliable to permit its admission. No trace of vacillation as to the identification of Taylor by the victim or Rector is shown from the record of the suppression hearing. State v. Carter, supra, at 435. The trial court did not err in allowing the identification testimony of the witnesses before the jury. See State v. Davis, 529 S.W.2d 10, 14 (Mo.App.1975) (Noted time between crime and line-up 7 months in Neil, and 2 year in that case “not factual”).

The remainder of the appellant’s argument is based on matters which go to the weight of the evidence and general credibility of the witnesses rather than the admissibility of their testimony. Prior inconsistent statements by Mrs. Crumley, the certainty of the language of both Crumley and Rector in identifying the appellant, are all facts to be weighed by the jury in their deliberations. State v. Higgins, supra, at 160; State v. Davis, supra, at 14-15; State v. Carter, supra, at 782.

The evidence shows and appellant admits in his brief the statement to the witnesses of fact that appellant had only been recently released from incarceration for second degree murder came after they had each made identification of him. Alleged statements to the victim and the boys about Taylor having taken a lie detector test also came after positive identification of him as Crumley’s attacker. Also noted is appellant’s assertation of the police suggesting to the witnesses that they had a suspect when the line-up was arranged. There was no evidence the sheriff or the police said they had the person who did it or that # 1 was that person. The very conducting “of any sort of identification process is suggestive to the witness being requested to make an identification. Any rational person requested to view either a group of photographs or a line-up knows that there is some belief that the persons sought might be included in the group reviewed.” State v. Sanders, supra, at 388. There was no sufficient evidence of suggestiveness in the totality of the procedures to cause a substantial risk of misidentification in this case.

In view of the totality of the circumstances there was not unnecessary suggestion to the witnesses capable of creating a substantial risk of their making an irreparable misidentification. The trial testimony of both Edith Crumley and Donald Rector was founded on independent observations made at the scene of the crime. The admission of their testimony did not violate Taylor’s right to due process nor did its admission result in a manifest injustice or a miscarriage of justice.

This case was argued on March 4, 1983. During this argument the state discussed certain issues, such as whether appellant had preserved the error complained of, and followed up a week later with a four page letter containing some six points with 20 cases cited as authority. Many of the points were not mentioned in the respondent’s brief and only one of the cases had been used in its brief (it was also relied upon by the appellant). Appellant has filed a motion to strike this “letter brief”. Although the court appreciates the well-researched “letter brief”, it simply is not fair to any appellant to have to respond to theories and arguments not briefed by the respondent. Not only is it too late at oral argument for the appellant to prepare for or respond to new arguments or variations on previous themes, such a practice creates a different problem. If the respondent can, before handdown of opinion bring up new matters, then, the appellant should be able to respond. This process would set up the possibility of a never ending flurry of briefs so that matters originally briefed during the regular briefing schedule would become obliterated in a continuous “point and counter-point”. None of the matters in the “letter brief” are necessary to deciding the issue in this case. It is out of time and appellant’s motion is sustained. This ruling does not prohibit the true supplementation of points already raised with new or recent cases.

The judgment of the trial court is affirmed.

1 . All statutory references are to RSMo.1978, unless otherwise indicated.